First-ever GenCon: What should I expect?

[Talmun]

Advice for a Gen-Con newbie

If you can, find a Gen-Con vet who likes the same things you do and ask to tag along. There's so much going on it's easy to miss great stuff and a guide helps.

Another thing I'd recommend is take some time to look through the program/schedule they give out, circle or highlight the events you don't want to miss.

If you haven't bought your badge or tickets, get in line early. Last year the line to buy a badge on Saturday stretched around the convention center. There's nothing more disappointing than standing in line for hours when 'The best four days in gaming' is going on 100yrds away.

Near the convention center there's a restaurant/sports bar called "the Ram". The last two years they decorated, had open gaming in the back, showed 'gamer' type movies (LotR etc.)and created a special Gen-con menu (last year it was "Van-Riechten's Guide to the Ram"). That's a very cool thing for a major, downtown restaurant to do, I highly recommend that you eat there at least once to encourage them to keep it up.

 

[SamhainIA]

Well, this will actually be my first time, but it doesn't seem so confusing to me. It's mostly just some extra paperwork at the end of the slot so that everybody can get their participation recorded. Honestly, for a free hotel room, I'll do as much paperwork as they want.

Of course, more experienced RPGA judges should feel free to jump in and frighten the noob.

Actually, running RPGA games at gencon (or other big shows) is ok. In the past, I have paid for my stay by judging at gencon and origins by doing so and the paperwork is no more onerous than a normal RPGA game. ( if you are unfamiliar with such paperwork, i suggest you go over to the wizards site and look at the rpga site, or do not be afraid to ask questions of your players)
and the diferent RPGA campaigns have different rulesets, and rules you must rigidly follow, such as living greyhawk adhereing to the offical D&D Faq.

good luck have fun judging

but let us return this thread to the regularly scheduled programming
and if you do have RPGA questions you could do the contact info on the website. or start a question on their forums